Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 18: The Third Baptism Banquet
June 3, 1952, sunny day

Early in the morning, Grandmother Jia led everyone from the Qin family to the hospital.

Last night, all the neighbors received invitations to a third-day bath banquet for Jia Geng that afternoon, except for the children of course.

Yan Jiefang just couldn't understand why children couldn't attend the banquet to celebrate children.

He kept asking his father, Comrade Yan Bugui.

Yan Bugui didn't know how to explain it, when another voice came.

"Dad, did I hold a third-day bath banquet?" Yan Jiekuang asked cutely.

Yan Bugui was depressed and thought, it’s your third birthday, and I even saved you the one-year-old birthday party.

Seeing Yan Bugui's predicament, Yang Ruiping took over the conversation, "Hurry up and wash your hands and eat, it will get cold soon."

The incident passed just like that, but Yan Bugui also blamed himself. Looking at the two children, he thought to himself that he should make more delicious food to treat them well in the future, but Yan Bugui overestimated himself.

Yan Jiekuang was teasing this stingy father. What he was thinking now was that this afternoon was a good opportunity.

Yes, he was still thinking about the East Cross Courtyard.

West Wing of the Front Courtyard of Siheyuan
Yan Jiekuang is teaching the two brothers a new game
The two brothers listened carefully, and Yan Jiefang said, "There's no way the three of us can play this."

"It's okay. You can gather all the children in the courtyard to play in the afternoon." Yan Jiekuang said casually.

The two brothers' eyes lit up, and soon, "Drop the handkerchief, drop the handkerchief, drop the handkerchief..."

The singing voice floated in the west wing, and Yang Ruiping laughed when he heard the singing.

Siheyuan (Who am I? Where am I?)

Near noon, the Jia family team came back. Jia Dongxu supported Qin Huairu, said a few casual hellos, and went into the house.

Grandmother Jia was holding her grandson, the two little brothers were carrying things, and Qin's father and mother followed behind, and several people entered one after another.

Preparations for the banquet have officially begun.

He Daqing is the head chef, and he also hired two apprentices, for a total of eight tables.

Jia Dongxu invited all the guests he should have. There were three tables for the guests from the steel rolling mill alone, three tables for the courtyard himself, one table for Qin's father, and one table for the Military Control Commission.

The housewives of the courtyard all went to lend a hand, some picked vegetables, some washed dishes, and some killed chickens and fish.

The young people began to move tables and chairs, with Yi Zhonghai in the center and Liu Haizhong in the backyard.

At this time, the sound of children singing was heard from the front yard.

"Drop the handkerchief, drop the handkerchief
Place it gently behind the child

Don't tell him.

Come on, come on, catch him

Quick, quick, catch him"

After the singing came the children's cheers, laughter and applause.

The adults smiled kindly when they heard the singing. At noon, guests arrived one after another. After entering the front yard, they greeted the children and then praised them for being so united and cute.

Familiar neighbors of the courtyard house accompanied the guests, feeling very happy and introducing their own children enthusiastically.

But after a while, many people couldn't laugh anymore.

After a few minutes, Liu Guangqi ran to the middle courtyard to find Yi Zhonghai, and took the old man and his father to the front yard.

When a few people went to the front yard and took a look, they were also dumbfounded. All the children in the yard were there, as well as a few from the neighboring yard. They formed a big circle, occupying the entire front yard, and were playing the game of dropping the handkerchief, having a great time.

Liu Guangqi hurriedly told the two uncles that the three tables in the backyard and the three tables in the middle yard were almost full, and if they wanted to sit more, they would have to sit in the front yard.

Yi Zhonghai was a little anxious when he heard this. If you don't let the children play, where will they go? Everyone goes back to their own homes. The adults are in the yard. Who will take care of the children?

Liu Haizhong also understood, and with his impulsive personality, he shouted loudly, "Stop! Stop for a moment!" The children were stunned at first, and then the younger ones started crying out of fear. One influenced the next, and except for a few older ones, the others all cried.

Liu Haizhong was at a loss, Yi Zhonghai was really dumbfounded this time, and Liu Guangqi was at a loss.

As luck would have it, Captain Zhang from the Military Control Commission was just stepping into the front yard with clerk Wang.

Seeing a group of children crying, his scalp tingled. Yi Zhonghai hurried over to explain. When Captain Zhang heard this, he was also a little at a loss as to what to do.

Clerk Wang said, "It's just a matter of arranging a place for the children to play. Hurry up and persuade the children first."

The neighbors who were watching heard what was happening.

Xu Damao suddenly shouted, "Isn't the west wing a large open space? That's where Shazhu and I used to play when we were little."

Yi Zhonghai slapped his head and said quickly: "Yes, yes, yes, the west wing is empty and safe. The key is in the backyard."

In this way, the child was coaxed into submission. Liu Guangqi took the key and led the group of children to the west wing.

Of course, there is a short-legged but very smart Yan Jiekuang hidden in the team.

Siheyuan Middle Courtyard

The little incident just now did not affect the mood of the guests, and the parents of the courtyard did not care about it either, and they were busy with their own things.

After a while, I heard the laughter and singing of children next door.

Captain Zhang and Old Man Li sat together, with Clerk Wang next to them, and everyone felt relieved.

Clerk Wang suddenly asked, "Who wrote the songs here? The games are pretty good too."

Old man Li was stunned for a moment and said, "I don't know. I guess he learned it outside. Maybe he was taught in the school nursery."

The deaf old lady was also at the main table. She did not attend the last meeting, so this was the first time she saw Clerk Wang.

Her eyes were fixed on Clerk Wang. Clerk Wang felt the gaze and looked over. Seeing that it was an old lady, he smiled and said, "Why are you looking at me? Old lady, do you know me?"

After hearing this, Captain Zhang and Uncle Li stopped talking and looked at the deaf old lady.

"Is your father's name Wang Zhongguo?" the deaf old lady said with a smile.

Clerk Wang was shocked and looked at the deaf old lady: "Do you know my father?"

"It's been more than ten years, I think. We met once at Qianmenlou." The deaf old lady said with a smile.

At this time, Captain Zhang and Old Man Li were shocked when they thought about it. More than ten years ago, the city of Sijiu was occupied by the Japanese.

"You are Miss Guixiang, woooo, I finally found you." Clerk Wang suddenly stood up, rushed to the deaf old lady crying, and held the deaf old lady's hand.

The deaf old lady also tried to persuade him, saying, "What's wrong, kid? What wronged you? Is your father okay?"

"My father died. Before he left, he told me and my brother to find you and repay you for saving his life." Clerk Wang said while wiping away tears.

The deaf old lady was sad and tried to comfort Wang. After Wang was done, she called Yi Zhonghai over, took out a red envelope and a silver bracelet, handed them to Yi Zhonghai, and went back to the backyard.

Everyone saw a lonely, thin and helpless figure, and everyone knew that the deaf old lady was sad.

After clerk Wang's explanation, we learned that Wang Zhongguo was our intelligence officer, who had been lurking in the city for 37 years and opened a small restaurant near Qianmen.

After that, the traitor betrayed them and the whole city was arrested. At the critical moment, it was this person named Guixiang who called her own driver to save them, sent them out of the city, and gave them travel expenses. A total of eleven people were rescued, one of whom was Wang Guozhong. If it weren't for Guixiang, they would have died without a doubt. The order at that time was "no matter whether they live or die."

Everyone sighed, and the deaf old lady's image in the entire courtyard became taller, even influencing the workers in the steel mill.

Yi Zhonghai sat down again and started to make arrangements to check on the child, then he saw Lady Jia coming out holding the little one. Dongxu started to toast at each table, accompanied by his two brothers-in-law.

The interruption allowed the party to continue and nothing happened after that. The atmosphere at the party was good. Many of the guests knew each other and it was a rare occasion for them to meet each other. They toasted each other and the atmosphere was very enthusiastic.

From time to time, listen to the children's songs and cheers next door.

　The role of the deaf old lady has always been a difficult one. Is she good or bad, loyal or treacherous? But if you think about it carefully, it is hard to believe that such an old lady who could survive from the Guangxu period to before the reform and opening up did not have some real skills.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)